President Donald Trump signed an executive order that mandates the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), effectively cutting off one of the group’s main sources of international funding for aid and disease response.
The White House shared in a statement that the decision to withdraw was due to the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, failure to implement necessary reforms, and lack of independence from political influence.
“WHO continues to demand unfairly high payments”
Additionally, the statement said that WHO continues to demand disproportionately high payments from the United States, which are far greater than what other countries contribute.
“For instance, despite having a population three times that of the United States, China contributes nearly 90% less to the WHO,” the statement wrote.
As a result, the United States has decided to withdraw from the WHO. The Presidential Letter to the UN Secretary-General, which had previously retracted the 2020 withdrawal notification, has now been revoked.
US National Security Council to create measures to safeguard public health
The President has directed the country’s National Security Council to set up mechanisms to protect public health and biosecurity.
The US Secretary of State and Director of the Office of Management and Budget are tasked with halting future United States support to the WHO, recalling personnel, and finding new partners to take over necessary tasks.
Additionally, the Director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy will review and replace the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy.
“Such agreement will have no binding force on the United States”
The order also says the US Secretary of State will notify the UN Secretary-General, other relevant bodies, and WHO leaders about the United State’s withdrawal.
During this process, the US Secretary of State will stop negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the International Health Regulations amendments, meaning these actions won’t bind the United States moving forward.
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